Free Rio by Georgina Gentry Page B

a light tap at her door. She opened it a crack to a bellboy. “Miss Sanchez?”
    “Yes?”
    He handed her a note. “I was told to give this to you.”
    She tipped him and closed the door quietly before opening the envelope. On monogrammed paper in refined handwriting, the note read:
    Dear Miss Sanchez:
    I apologize humbly for this morning’s mishap. I beg you to forgive me and hope to see you again soon.
    Your most humble and adoring servant,
Edwin Forester
    She smiled as she sat back down and reread the note before tearing it up in tiny bits. So she had Edwin interested in her. What should she do now? Obviously her guardian was not going to allow this enemy to call on his ward because of this silly family feud. She knew they werereturning to the ranch tomorrow. In the meantime, she laid out one of her most beautiful turquoise dresses, put her hair up in elaborate curls, and dusted herself with forget-me-not-scented talcum powder and perfume.
    Now how could she get a note to Edwin? He was probably still in his office at the capitol. She sat down at the little desk and reached for note paper. She was uncertain what to say. She didn’t want to sound too eager, but on the other hand, she didn’t want to discourage such a suitable beau who offered everything a girl could dream of. No, she decided there just wasn’t any way to get a note to Edwin without someone on the hotel staff alerting her uncle. She sighed, picked up a book, and tried to read.
    It was a romance, but she couldn’t keep her mind on the pages. She could possibly snare the most sought-after bachelor in Austin. Wouldn’t that be a feather in her cap? All those girls from last night’s ball would be so envious and wouldn’t dare insult or demean Turquoise again.
    Finally, she gave up on the book about the time she heard her guardian stirring around in his room. With a sigh, she began to dress. Supper at a fine restaurant would have been an exciting treat before, but now dinner with her uncle sounded dull. It was the kind of thing old maids did—go out to eat with relatives. Well, it was getting late. If she did manage to reach Edwin, he probably already had plans, an important meeting or something.
    It occurred to her that if they had a quick bite in the hotel dining room, Uncle Trace might want to go to bed early. In that case, she might manage to sneak out and meet Edwin if she could get a message to him.
    She could hear Uncle Trace moving about in his room now and she knocked on the door.
    “Come in,” he said.
    She opened the door, watching him comb his grayinghair. “Uncle Trace, maybe we could have just a quick bite in our rooms.”
    “On our last night in town?” He snorted. “That surprises me, Turquoise. Since we may not be back in Austin for months, I thought you’d like to see how the other half lives.”
    “Well, yes. Is it a really fancy place?”
    “Si.”
He nodded with a grin.
    If it were a fancy place, Edwin might be there. That was all she could hope for now unless she feigned a headache and returned to the hotel early. Then it might be too late.
    “Don’t look so glum,” Trace said as he began to button his shirt. “I’ve invited someone to join us for dinner.” He started through the connecting door of the suite.
    “Oh. Who?”
    “Never mind. Just get your wrap and I’ll meet you in the hall in ten minutes.”
    She closed the door, intrigued. Maybe it was some eligible young man, she thought as she surveyed herself in the mirror. Her dress was turquoise-colored tulle with a full skirt and a small, perky bustle. She put silver and turquoise combs in her black hair and looked again. The dress was more modest than the other one. She bit her lips and pinched her cheeks to give them a rosy glow.
    “Turquoise, are you comin’?” Trace’s impatient voice from the hall.
    No, there was no way to get a note to Edwin now or make any plans to meet him later. She grabbed a cashmere shawl. “I’m on my way.”
    She went into